How to Transfer a Car Title in Utah

The Utah transfer in one table

The transfer, step by step

1. Check the title document before paying. The VIN or hull number on the document must match the vehicle. The seller must have signed where necessary to release ownership. A previous lienholder printed on the title must have signed to release the lien. The purchase date, purchase price, and odometer disclosure must be correctly filled in.
2. Complete Form TC-656. All owners listed must provide government-issued identification. A bill of sale on Form TC-843 backs up the transaction record. For a leased vehicle, bring the lessor's power of attorney, billing statement, and Utah sales tax number.
3. Choose the channel. In person at a DMV office, by mail to the Motor Vehicle Division (P.O. Box 30412, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-8800; express delivery 210 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116), or online through Person to Person for a Utah-titled vehicle. All taxes and fees are due at application.
4. Handle the out-of-state case at the office. Out-of-state titles need an office visit, a VIN inspection, and a temporary permit while the title is awaited. If the seller cannot find an out-of-state title, the seller must obtain a duplicate from that state — Utah's online system cannot substitute for it.
5. Finish within 120 days. The Division may cancel a transaction pending more than 120 days, and fees paid may be non-refundable. Uploaded documents that trigger an email checklist need a prompt response.

The two Utah rules buyers miss

The first is the family-tax rule: Utah charges sales tax on family-to-family sales with no exemption, and the Tax Commission reviews claimed prices for accuracy. A $1 "sale" to a relative is not a $1 tax bill — it is an audit with a fraud penalty. The second is the title-scope rule for the online system: Person to Person handles Utah titles, and only Utah titles. A buyer who starts an online transfer on an out-of-state title will be routed to the office anyway, after the delay.

Use the Division's fee estimator for the exact taxes and fees for a specific vehicle, or call the DMV at (801) 297-7780 or 1-800-DMV-UTAH (800-368-8824). This guide states no transfer-fee figure beyond the $6 duplicate-title fee, because the transfer total depends on the vehicle and the estimator states it.

For title transfers in other states, see the Car Title Transfer by State directory. For what to verify before paying, see Title Transfer Checks Before Buying a Used Car.

Source

Sources: Utah Division of Motor Vehicles, Transfer a Utah Title and UPP – Utah Person to Person Online Title Transfers (Forms TC-656, TC-123, TC-843, TC-891, ID rule, UPP limits, out-of-state handling, family-tax rule and fraud penalty, leased-vehicle documents, emissions counties, 120-day cancellation, $6 duplicate fee, addresses and phone numbers), read 2026-11-01. Facts verified 2026-11-01. Open flags: no title-transfer deadline or late penalty is stated on the pages opened, and none is asserted; the transfer fee total is estimator-dependent and no flat transfer fee is carried beyond the verified $6 duplicate-title fee.

This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute about your specific situation, talk to your state motor vehicle agency or court.